New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-02
AIMING STATE TROOPS.
MAGAZINE RIFLES THE COMING WEAPONS

MAGAZINE RIFLES THE COMANu "EAroNS'
wrrp or UNIFORM ARMS FOR MILITIA AND REGU-
LARs-wHAr THE NATIONAL GUARD COULD DO
IN CASE OF RIOTS. ,.....--s
tyRoN THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
ALBANY, May Lone OF the bills before the Legis
lsture which has hitherto attracted little attention is
that OF the Assembly Committee OF WAYS and Neans
authorizing the Governor to appoint commission TO
select new rife tor the National Guard. The COM
mission will merely recommend the weapon, not pur-
chase any that the gun-makers need not be unduy
excited over the announcement The Legislature VIII
have to make appropriation to boy inc guns oetore
tho bright agents OF the rifle manufacturers can make
proposals tor o contract.
Adiutant. General Porter said last weeks The
National Guard Is armed with>the Remington brtech-
loader We have had the weapons tor fifteen years
and their days of usefulness are about over for they
have had hard usage Few persons outside OF military
circles realize how many times the guns are Tired.
They In constant at target practice and now as
have said they nearly worn out. Certainly we
need new issue OF arms l think we should have
$4,000 stand OF arms OF the most recent pattern
ia Will the State get arms from the Uaited states
Government under the recent appropriation Oh
$4,000 by Congress! inquired THE TRIBUNE cor
respondent.
sTbat the idea of Senator Parker, who is press
ing the commiss bill replied the Adutant General,
but the National Guard in my opinion would not
accept the Springfield rifle. 1t is an ANTICIPATED
weapon"
n" is there not some IDEA among military men Oh nav
ing the arms OF the militia of the several States and OF
the Regular Army correspond in order that in tine OF
war the cartridges issued to both forces could be the
same9"
AYES, and we adopted the Remington 90 calibre
rifle with that idea fifteen years ago, but we had
soarcey done so when the United States authorities
dropped from so to 40 caibre. and now could very
we'll use 40 caibre. But the Springfield is behind
the times and we would not take it,"
I" Is there any idea OF adopting magazine r1fef"
r. IN, t,ipfau hat ia nj
the future and the National Guard well the Reg
ular Army will be armed with it. The officers of the
National Guard Think however that the breech-loader
ia sufficient for mobs. But in case OF war with
foreign nation we should need the magazine rlne'
The Chic. OF Ordnance of the United States Govern
lnen., s v. Benet. has made report against the
magazine guns and in favor OF retaining the Spring
field rifle. 1t seems to me- however, that he Is too
conservative We have excellent magazine guns,
better THAI those with which Germany, France,
Austria and Italy are now arming their troops.
Lately we had here Mauser magazine carbip, OF the
German Army and experimental with it. Our breech-
loader according to the tests MADE was SUPERIOR 70
the test was fair one We should have had the
Mauser magazine rifle issued to the regular army OF
Germany. Then think should have seen the
great superiority of the to our breechOaders
One of the objections OF the United States Army
officers TO the magazine rifle struck me as hi.hlv
absurd 1t was that they couldn't present arms
easily With It, Well, ] think that present arms is
ahgbly ornamental part of soldiers handling OF
time OF when we should wish to withstand rush
of enemy's troops do not think our troops would
be presenting arms On the Sohrary .hey woal ia
bullets ali over column OF an attacking enemy. a
magazine rife Is needed tor emergency, for a few
brief moments when the situation is critical when 1t
is necessary 10 rain bullets upon assaiing force
As have said, have doubt we shall adopt 1t some
time in future years The commission to be appointed
by the State Government would consider the whole
What about the condition Of the National Guard ."
CT thiux it is good" answered the Adiutant Cen
eral and that il is yearly improving. We are max
ing the National Guardsman soldier. He is no
longer man in uniform about once a year, marching
proudly no and down Broadway. The regiments were
formerly eager get every man they could into a
uniform and go out 20 parade with him-whsther he
was drilled OF not. We do not take any such men any
longer. The recruit is TO be soldier he is to do
thorough work In consequence the National
Guard has vastly improved ~
ayes; YOU might it has accomplished the feat OF
making the National Guardsman soldier. 1t ias
did not dream we could do till the camp was estab-
lished. lost Of us in the National Guard had come
tothe opinion before that camp was established that
nothing could be made out OF the Guard, that Its
members could not be transformed into soldiers But
the camp did it. and undertook and accomplished
hn as have sa Gn %s Sa nUs
L uow a band Of soldiers."
sCan you effectively and the police in quelling riots
sWe can. All the arrangements a,e completed TO
summon to their several armories instantly every
regiment of the National Guard III Newfork and
Brooklyn. The business and home addresses OF every
member Of the Guard in the possession OF certain
officers. On receiving word from the Governor by the
use of the telephone telegraph and the police, in an
incredibly short period OF time the members OF the
Guard would be summoned their armories and
would be under arms We did not have these arrange
ments perfe ,ted in 1877 but before midnight ON one
day IN that year q NewYork regiment had been sum-
moned together afternoon, armed and was on lis
way to Hornesville TO guard the great railway shops
there rioters Yes, in OF riot the National
Guard would most effectively aid the police"